| Cardiovascular diseases (i.e diseases involving the heart and the blood vessels) are the leading cause of ill-health and death globally, and blood lipid levels e.g. high LDL-cholesterol and high triglycerides (TGs), are considered a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We know there’s a link between the gut microbiome and cardiovascular health, and recent research using probiotics has backed this up. A combination of three specific strains of Lactobacillus plantarum has shown significant benefits for improving blood lipid profiles. These strains, when taken together, may provide a natural way to manage cholesterol levels, either alone or alongside traditional lipid-lowering medications. How It Works These probiotics produce an enzyme called bile salt hydrolase (BSH), which interferes with the reabsorption of bile salts in the small intestine during digestion. As bile salts are made from cholesterol, the liver compensates by pulling cholesterol from the blood to create new bile salts, helping to reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol while improving overall lipid balance. The Results Are Impressive Studies demonstrate that for people with moderately raised cholesterol, who are not on statins or other lipid-lowering medication, supplementing with these probiotics daily for 12 weeks can lead to: 19% reduction in total cholesterol 20% reduction in LDL (“bad cholesterol”) 12% reduction in oxidized LDL (“really bad cholesterol”) 16% reduction in triglycerides 8% increase in HDL (“good cholesterol”) For individuals already on statins, this probiotic blend provided even greater improvements, including: 25% reduction in LDL 24% reduction in total cholesterol 16% reduction in triglycerides 18% increase in HDL The differences between the test group and placebo group were not significant after 6 weeks, indicating that it takes time to see the results. Interestingly, even 4 weeks after the trial finished, during which time participants had stopped take the probiotics, the test group continued to show significant improvements relative to the placebo. Who May Benefit? Specific probiotic strains may help:People with mild to moderate cardiovascular risk who want a natural, standalone option.Those with higher cardiovascular risk who are already on lipid-lowering medications but want additional improvements.If you would like to discuss how to manage your cholesterol levels through diet, lifestyle and, potentially, supplementation (even if you are already on medication), why not book in for nutritional therapy consultation and we’ll come up with a bespoke plan.(References available on request) |
Could probiotics help lower your cholesterol?
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